JPS6188262A - Manufacture of relief plate - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a relief printing plate for one-person printing.
prir+Ling plate) and V related to such manufacturing methods.

Time is essential in printing technology. In the past, relief printing plates have been made by engraving and etching a layer of zinc or magnetite. However, these methods required a relatively extensive etching period before sufficient relief was obtained on the metal plate. More recently, the print edition! l! Techniques have been disclosed for using polymeric materials in place of metals in construction.

Modern letterpress printing now typically utilizes printing plates with relief images created photographically from photopolymer compositions. The photopolymer composition to be imaged can be liquid or solid.

In the case of solid photopolymers, the desired relief image is produced by exposing the solid photopolymer bonded to a metal or plastic support sheet to light radiation shaped through a photographic negative in contact with the solid photopolymer. The photopolymer composition is exposed to light for a sufficient period of time to insolubilize the photopolymer composition in the photopolymer composition. In the case of liquid 7OY polymer, the desired relief image is obtained by casting the liquid photopolymer that has been cast in contact with the support sheet by following the negative image of the photo that is not in contact with the photopolymer. collimated (col l 1IIatcd) light emission 1
This is sufficient to substantially cure the photopolymer composition in the exposed areas of the image. Develop by removing the portion of the photopolymer composition that is free from the support sheet.

Regardless of whether a liquid photopolymer or a solid photopolymer is conventionally used to produce a relief printing plate, the image is projected through a photographic negative in a 1:1 ratio with the photopolymer. In other words, the image cured into the photopolymer scrap was the same size as the negative image of the photograph. Printed circuits using lithographic or offset printing plates or dry films (NTCD circuit boards)
) (all of which use very 1°σ photopolymer layers), it is possible to project an image through a photographic negative with a sizing ratio of 1:1 (βa photopolymer layers) ``The dimensions of the cured image in the two are larger than the dimensions of the image in the photographic negative), the many advantages resulting from the production of projection glue in ratios greater than 1:1, such as reduced material costs, reduced need for storage. and great flexibility is achieved.

Therefore, the main objective of the present invention is to project relief printing plates of convex printing at projection ratios greater than 1:1.
The purpose of this invention is to provide a system for projecting i+auginB).

It is an object of the present invention to provide such a system which significantly reduces costs by eliminating the use of full size photographic film.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such a system that significantly reduces storage requirements.

A key objective of the present invention is to image relief printing plates of different dimensions using the same film roll.
The aim is to provide great flexibility in terms of

The historical object of the present invention is to provide a printed layer of better quality than that made using conventional processes.

The present invention comprises a projection-imaged relief printing plate and a method for making such a plate. The projection-imaged relief printing plate of the present invention is characterized in that ultraviolet light, which has first passed through a photopolymer layer on a support sheet and then through a light beam, is applied to the photopolymer layer on the support sheet. Image formation provided by passing the resulting image through an image bearing means not in contact with the polymer layer to a projection magnification means which projects the resulting image onto the photopolymer layer at a predetermined magnification ratio of greater than 1:1. and (b) removing the unexposed portions of the photopolymer. If the photopolymer-forming acid is a liquid, the liquid-containing support sheet is preferably placed in water and the layer of the liquid photopolymer composition is deposited until the layer is imagewise exposed. If the photopolymer composition is a solid, the solid photopolymer layer is preferably brought into contact with the cover sheet and the solid photopolymer layer is exposed to light until substantially cured in the imagewise exposed areas.
The opening exposure is sufficient to insolubilize the Osibolimer 114 rR product. Preferably, the layer of liquid or solid photopolymer composition is exposed to image-forming projected light radiation for about 0.5 seconds to about 0.5 seconds.
Direct actinic radiation (dir
ect acLinic radiation).

These and other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred vehicle and from the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of the projection imaging system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram of another projection imaging system according to the present invention.

The projection-imaged relief printing plate of the present invention combines a support sheet with two photopolymer layers and an imageable projection plate. 5 and then removing the unexposed portions of the polymer.

The image-forming administered optical radiation is first homogenized (hom
oBnizing means, then condensing means.
iB) projection magnification in which the ultraviolet radiation passed through the means is projected onto the photopolymer layer with a predetermined magnification ratio greater than 1=1, the image obtained through the image carrier f2 not in contact with said photopolymer layer; It is given by passing it through a means.

The nature of the photopolymer is not critical insofar as it gives relief features in letterpress printing by providing exposed and unexposed areas; this photopolymer can be either a liquid photopolymer or (dried to a solid state) Any liquid photopolymer composition that can be cured to a solid state by using ultraviolet light may be used in the present invention, including liquid photopolymers, which may be lunar body photopolymers. Examples of compositions cited herein as references include Rell's Patent No. rjS4,358,354, U.S. Patent No. 4,137,081, and U.S. Patent No.
No. 4, G 76, US Pat. No. 4,057,431 or British Patent No. 1,519,013. These disclosures are incorporated herein by reference. Liquid photopolymer compositions suitable for newspaper printing are described in US Pat.
S4, 120.721.

The disclosure went to the river fish and joined the unknown M re. One such suitable photopolymer #iL composition is: 1) 10-80% by weight acrylic or metallic terminated urethane-containing polyene, 2) 5-60% by weight vinyl monomer diluent, 3) polythiol. 0.1-35% by weight, 4) Photoinitiator 0.0
1 to 10% by weight.

A relief 1ffi of convex storm printing can be made by providing exposed areas that are insoluble in the phenomenon solution and unexposed areas that are town 78 in the phenomenon solution251
Body photopolymer compositions can be used in the present invention. Examples of suitable solid photopolymer substrates include U.S. VF Patent No. 41197,130 or British Patent No. 1, incorporated herein by reference.
No. 395,822. The disclosure of which is incorporated herein by Kawahara. A preferred solid photopolymer composition is a cup (NAPP) comprising a copolymer of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate crosslinked with a multifunctional heptacrylate or heptacrylate.
It is a solid photopolymer.

The photopolymers of the present invention preferably serve as photoinitiators or sensitizers, such as benzophenone, acetate, acenaphthenequinone, O-methquinbe,
These include, but are not limited to, nuzophenone, anthraquinone, naruenalketone, and the like. This 4th flight i'J1
The degree accelerator of the photopolymer composition of the present invention is 0.02~
102-10 weight 4it will be 1 death J Yamazoenogawa.

The support J used, (the body material, i.e. the support /-F can be a natural or synthetic product, which can be present in film sheet or plate form, and also flexible or green, I)L Metals, which may have smooth or textured surfaces, reflective or non-reflective of actinic radiation, are preferably used as supports due to their high strength in thin form. However, if weight is a significant issue, plastic,
Paper or rubber is used as a support.

Suitable metals for the support sheet include steel, aluminum, magnesium, copper, aluminum, and the like.

Polymers such as addition polymers, vinylidene polymers, linear condensation polymers such as polyesters, polyesteramides, etc. can be used. Cellulosic fibers such as cotton, cellulose acetate, vinyl fiber rayon and paper (semi-synthetic or natural); lath wool; nylon, etc. may also be present in synthetic resin or polymeric supports; their reinforcement The prepared substrate may be used in a layered form.

The solid photopolymer is bonded onto the support sheet by lamination, extrusion or other comparable methods. Liquid photopolymers can be prepared by convenient techniques, such as by roller coating and dispensing followed by doctor knife treatment, as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,080, or as in U.S. Pat. Shape t (ispensi
ng) on the support sheet. The disclosures of these patent documents are incorporated herein by reference as references.

A preferred method is a mold dispensing method comprising simultaneously dispensing and molding liquid photopolymer Jt4 onto a support sheet.

For the purpose of making suitable relief EIl i'j'I plates, the layer on the support sheet of fL body or solid photopolymer should have a thickness of at least 6 mils, preferably about It has a thickness of 1() to 250 mils.

If this version is used for newspaper production,
(preferably has a ++7-shape of 10 to 35 mils;
For use with books and office paper, the preferred scrap thickness is 17-20 mils; and for use with printed bags and corrugated card boar boxes.
dbox), the preferred FI of the waste is 30~
It is 250 mil.

Photopolymer 7+ on support N-F! Before the sculptural exposure of i, the photopolymer sheet is preferably bumped (
exposed to light (short-term direct exposure to actinic radiation). The purpose of this exposure is to reduce the unevenness in large relief areas, and to reduce the unevenness of the areas receiving strong light (l+igl+l).
il+)1tdoL), and reduce the shortening time. l of solid or liquid photopolymers! 4 has a thickness of 10-35 mils, it is preferably bump exposed for about 0.5-4.0 seconds. If the photopolymer layer has an I' thickness of 35 to 250 mils, this is preferably 5'
Second ~ 20 runs 111] Bamboo is accused.

If the photopolymer to be bump exposed is a solid, the photopolymer is preferably contacted with a transparent cover sheet prior to bump exposure to remove air on the front side of the plate.

A preferred cover sheet is a 10 mil clear plastic film with a 6-center exposure and a solid photopolymer. There should preferably be about 10 seconds of image exposure for each second of bump exposure. The photopolymer to be subjected to bump exposure is a liquid Vernon photopolymer (vir-gin phoLo).
When the photopolymer is a polyglot (CR), the liquid photopolymer is exposed to a period of no more than about 90%, preferably no more than about 80%, of the period during which the photopolymer begins to gel (nuclear actinic radiation I). ! It should be exposed to 11 rays.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the photopolymer 2 on the support sheet 3 is preferably placed on the vacuum table 5 in a substantially horizontal position 16. The purpose of this vacuum table is to support the photopolymer plate during the image exposure process. If the photopolymer to be exposed is a solid, and if the photopolymer has not come into contact with the cover sheet beforehand during the bump exposure f, the photopolymer is suitable; Thickness 1-10
The sample is placed in contact with a clear glass lick film of a mill and exposed to an image at 10°C.

The dog II, Cheng C, has 11 statues (IIIage bear).
ing) means, preferably the shade 1l1118 of 'jJ'↓
is placed so that it is not in contact with the photopolymer plate. The shadow U1q of this photograph must be substantially free of defects and is preferably kept free of dust etc. by conventional steps. The image bearing means 8 is placed either unlit on the surface of the 74-meter trunk as shown in FIG. The open air gap between the image bearing means and the photopolymer layer is maintained at about 10 to 75 inches, preferably about 30 to 75 inches, and more preferably about 33 to 60 inches. The air gear knob is the distance of the optical path from the image bearing means to the photopolymer layer.

The image carrying means is or It! ? This can refer to L-agents, including Noazo emulsifiers, laser masks, such as Gra7 eye tracer masks, and the like.

The emulsion may be supported on a polymeric film, glass, or any convenient means. The image carrying means is held at a predetermined position 1a by a mechanical hook U. If an emulsion of a glass plate or plastic film is used as the image bearing means, the emulsion side is preferably the side facing photopolymer J+4 or closest to it, V+.

The projection ζ3 lens 11 is positioned such that it receives the light intercepted by the image carrier means 8 and projects the image onto the photopolymer layer with a predetermined magnification ratio of greater than 1:1. Any suitable type of lens can be used for this magnification, whether it is a quartz or glass lens. Lenses suitable for the present invention are 20-2107^I
This is a lens for -.

After the image bearing means 11 and the projection lens 11 are placed in position, an ultraviolet light beam, preferably in the range of 2000 to 500 (cm), is present in a position to pass the light through the image bearing means. The current light source 14 is activated. The power source 17 provides power compatible with UV radiation, and the light source 14 may include a carbon arc, mercury arc, water cannon, tungsten halide, and argon glow lamp. The light source is a mercury arc or a mercury xenon beam.

The light from the ray 14 is reflected by a guichroic mirror (die-1
+roic m1rror) 23a''2 hR collector 2() (preferably an aspherical electroformed surface designed to collect up to -tiL from the lamp mounted on the inside 11) which acts to reflect light reactants). The purpose of the glaucroic mirror is to filter out the infrared energy of light and reflect the unused energy.

From the guichroic mirror 23a, UV light is an optical product): M (optical integraLor) 2
6, this helps to homogenize the potential (make the potential uniform intensity across the viewed area) 6 then the UV potential is mJ Mirror 23b, then condensing lens; l: (conden
singlelens) 29, or from the optical integrator 2G to the flame lens 29 as in step 2-1. Condenser lens 2 is here! ] is concentrated (the thickness of the light beam is set to 2), and then the light beam is sent to the image 4 (I-carrying medium 1L (I)) from there to the projection lens 11.

This throw 35 lens has a ratio of 1:1 to 1! Is it bullying? Project the image onto the photopolymer surface at an increased ratio.

1 depending on whether you want a straight line or a water line
One or more guichroic mirrors can be used. As seen in Section 2 and 1, an image may be reflected from a mirror, e.g. If a liquid, the photopolymer coating 2 is exposed to image-forming projected light radiation until the photopolymer coating 2 is cured in the imagewise exposed areas. If the photopolymer to be imaged is a solid, this 7otobolymer-M2 will have a projected charge that forms the image, sufficient to insolubilize the photopolymer composition in the exposed areas. be exposed to light.

l of the photopolymer layer! 7. - The exposure time is approximately 20-120 seconds''c.
be. 7K) Expose a plate with a polymer JA thickness of 35 to 250 mils using PI L.
is approximately 30 seconds to 8 minutes.

Develop the relief printed garment by sculpturally exposing the photopolymer composition of the second support sheet. , removing the cover note, if present, from the exposed photopolymer of the image.

The phenomenon can be cured by conventional means, e.g., by removing the substantially uncured portion of the photopolymer with a suitable solvent by driving the substantially uncured portion through a Z stream C''. The developed raised relief print JK is then subjected to direct specific actinic radiation treatment for a period of preferably 10920 to 90 seconds and then exposed to IEII %. Used for ζ1.

The following non-limiting examples further describe the invention.

Example 1 - 20 pieces of commercially available commercially available commercially produced
Molding and distributing at ~22 mil q, W, R, Gray X
Company Kara 4G La 11. L E T T E RF
If the gel is set to 30% of the gel, -', and ξ in the LEXL F-135 exposure tower, then the bump exposure is performed by the bump exposure. Next, this bump-exposed plate is transferred to an image carrier t't I'Z l! Approximately 0 below 1hi of I11
．． 015 inch water-based 1. The bump-exposed plate was placed on a vacuum table in the L position at 6 kW.
The image was exposed for 6 seconds at a 1:1 ratio through the image-bearing negative. This plate was then processed using an l-1ETTERFLEX-135 air knife proc.
csscr) (W, R, manufactured by Brace), and the four substantially uncured portions of ir ('i'j') were removed from the plate.

Example 2 Liquid photopolymer (W, R, commercially available from Brace Co., Ltd.) Product name LETTRE', RF I-EX
Y Toshi 11Ae 3 /L T) was molded and distributed on a steel plate base material to a thickness of 20 mil, and W, R,
LET'rF", R1'l- manually produced by Brace Corporation
1:, exposed by bump exposure set at 80% of gel point in X LF-135 exposure 7-. This bump-exposed plate was then exposed to an image-bearing plate 105.
A negative image of a 14 mm film was placed in a horizontal position on a vacuum table approximately 59 inches below the opening. The exposed plate was then exposed to external radiation (T: External radiation) using an optical DA/B company (including an optical power source of 1.6 kl+).
Radiation Corpora L Ion
) by passing mercury xenon light]
4. Exposure to image-forming projected light radiation for 60 seconds. This light passes through an optical integrator, a condensing lens, an image-bearing negative, and then passes through a projection lens that projects an image onto a photopolymer 114 with a magnification ratio of 5x. Met.

This plate is then L E T T E RF L
The plates were developed by removing the naturally uncured resin from the plate using an EX-135 air knife processing machine (W, R. Pi from Brace, Inc.).
The plate formed in this way was attached to a newspaper printing machine, and a mark X1ill was made. The resulting print bundle was compared to that produced in a conventional r2 as in Example 1. Real', Qi (+'j42 projection magnification system has a much lower electric power 1Pk (1,6ku+monthly 8 to 8) than in Example 1)
, and even though the distance between the image bearing means and the plate was very large (59 inch No. 015 inch),
The image exposure time required by the projection magnification system of Example 2 was still only 60 seconds, the same as that required by the comparative conventional method Example 1.

Example 3'? The method of Example 2 was repeated except that Omm film was used, a 105 InIl lens was used, and the UV radiation was projected at a magnification of 7.25X. (The colored plates were comparable to those of Example 2.

Example 4 Example 2 and Example 3 except using a power source that reduces the UV/V current to 1.0 km, thus requiring an increase in projection exposure time of about 10-15%, for a total of about 67 seconds. ) J method was repeated. dot rcccr
A plate comparable to the plate of Example 2 was obtained, except for the problem of 5 ion).

Example 5 NAPP SysLem In
c+USA Cali 7 San Marcos City, Orniu (S
A commercially available solid photopolymer plate having an rI of approximately 20 mils of photopolymer manufactured by UnMarcos) was bump exposed for 3 seconds in a LETTERFLEX LF-135 exposure tower.

The bump-exposed plate is then exposed to the image-bearing l
The bump-exposed plate was then imagewise exposed as in Example 2. The image-exposed plate , Percules (
An aqueous co-spray wash commercially available from Hrecules Cor++ ortion) was developed. The aqueous engraving agent used was L, available from W, R, Brace.
E T 'r E RF L EX Systems (S
The plate was then dried in hot air and exposed to ultraviolet light for 60 seconds.

Example 6 Photopolymer plate during bump and projection exposure process
．． in contact with a 5 mil clear plastic film.
The method of Example 5 was repeated to assess the effect of air exclusion on the surface of the plate. After 6 projection exposures, the plastic film was removed and the plate was then processed as in Example 5.

This resulted in a plate that was better than Example 5-6, ie, had finer lines and better rope dot retention ability.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of its preferred embodiments, it is understood that variations and modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All such modifications and equivalent embodiments thereof which come within the true scope of the invention are intended to be covered by the following claims.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 11 are system diagrams of the projection image system of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a system diagram of the Ike projection image system of the invention. In 1, 2... photopolymer, 3... support sheet, 5... vacuum table, 8... image bearing negative, 11... projection lens, 14... light source, 17...・
Power pack, 20... extractor, 2; (a, 231)
...Dichro ink mirror, 26...Yu'7 IfJ
Integrator, 29... is a condensing lens.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. a) applying a layer of a photopolymer composition onto a support sheet; b) subjecting the photopolymer layer to light radiation which has first passed through homogenization means and then through a light collection means; Image formation provided by passing an image obtained through an image bearing means not in contact with the photopolymer layer through a projection magnification means which projects onto the photopolymer layer at a predetermined magnification ratio greater than 1:1. c) developing the relief printing plate by exposing the photopolymer composition to imagewise exposure step b; and c) removing from the support sheet those portions of the photopolymer composition that were not exposed during imagewise exposure step b. manufacturing method. 2. In step a, the photopolymer composition is a liquid, and the layer of liquid photopolymer composition is exposed in steps until the layer is substantially cured in the imagewise exposed areas. Method described. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the liquid-containing support sheet is placed in a substantially horizontal position before exposing said layer of liquid photopolymer composition in step b. 4. The photopolymer composition is solid in step a, and the layer of solid photopolymer is exposed in step b for a period sufficient to insolubilize the photopolymer composition in the exposed areas. The method described in paragraph 1. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the layer of photopolymer has a thickness of at least 6 mils. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the layer of photopolymer has a thickness of about 10 to 35 mils. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein prior to step b, the layer of photopolymer composition is exposed to direct actinic radiation for a period of about 0.5 to about 4.0 seconds. 8. Prior to step b, the layer of liquid photopolymer composition is coated for about 90 minutes before the photopolymer begins to gel.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the exposure to direct actinic radiation is for no longer than %. 9. Applying the layer of liquid photopolymer composition for no more than about 80% of the period during which the photopolymer begins to gel.
9. A method according to claim 8, comprising exposure to direct actinic radiation. 10. The liquid photopolymer contains: 1) 10-80% by weight of an acrylic or methacrylic-terminated urethane-containing polyene, 2) 5-60% by weight of a water-insoluble vinyl monomer diluent, 3) 0.1-35% by weight of polythiol. and 4) 0.01 to 10% by weight of a photoinitiator. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the image bearing means comprises a photographic negative. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the image carrying means comprises a laser mask. 13. Claim 1 in which the light radiation consists of ultraviolet light radiation
The method described in section. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the homogenizing means comprises an optical integrator. 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the condensing means comprises a condensing lens. 16. The method of claim 2, wherein the liquid photopolymer layer is in distributed form on a support sheet. 17. In step c, the relief printing plate is placed under sufficient pressure to remove the substantially uncured portions of the photopolymer composition by forcing the substantially uncured portions in front of the gas stream. 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the method is exposed to a gas flow of: 18. The method of claim 4, wherein the unexposed portions of the photopolymer composition are removed by aqueous etching. 19. The method of claim 4, wherein the solid photopolymer composition is contacted with the cover sheet prior to step b and is removed after the imagewise exposure step b. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the cover sheet comprises a clear plastic film having a thickness of 1 to 10 mils. 21, about 10-7 between the image bearing means and the photopolymer layer
2. The method of claim 1, wherein an air space of 5 inches is maintained. 22. a) disposing a layer of a liquid photopolymer composition on a support sheet; b) placing the support sheet containing the liquid in a substantially horizontal position; c) placing this photopolymer layer first in a The light radiation passed through a homogenizing means and then a condensing means is applied to the photopolymer layer at a predetermined magnification ratio of greater than 1:1 to form an image obtained through an image bearing means not in contact with the photopolymer layer. and d) removing from the support sheet those portions of the photopolymer composition which were not exposed during the imagewise exposure step c. A relief printing plate manufacturing method consisting of each step of developing a relief printing plate. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the layer of liquid photopolymer has a thickness of at least 6 mils. 24. a) applying a layer of a photopolymer composition on a support sheet; b) contacting this photopolymer layer with light radiation that has first passed through a homogenizing means and then through a focusing means; image-forming projection light radiation provided by passing through a projection magnification means which projects the image obtained through the unconventional image bearing means onto the photopolymer layer at a predetermined magnification ratio greater than 1:1; c) developing a relief printing plate by exposing and c) removing from the support sheet those parts of the photopolymer composition that were not exposed during imagewise exposure step b; Relief printing version. 25. In step a, the photopolymer composition is a liquid, and the layer of liquid photopolymer composition is exposed in step b until the layer is substantially cured in the imagewise exposed areas. Relief printing plate described in section. 26. Claims in which the photopolymer composition is solid in step a and the layer of solid photopolymer is exposed in step b for a period sufficient to render the photopolymer composition insolubilized in the exposed areas. 24th
Relief printing plate described in section. 27. The relief printing plate of claim 24, wherein the layer of photopolymer has a thickness of at least 6 mils. 28. 25. The relief printing plate of claim 24, wherein the layer of photopolymer has a thickness of about 10 to 35 mils. 29. The relief printing plate of claim 28, wherein prior to step b, the layer of photopolymer composition is exposed to direct actinic radiation for a period of about 0.5 to about 4.0 seconds. 30. Prior to step b, the layer of liquid photopolymer composition is applied to the liquid photopolymer composition for a period of about 90 minutes before the photopolymer begins to gel.
26. Relief printing plate according to claim 25, which is exposed to direct actinic radiation for no longer than 0%. 31. Claim 24, wherein the optical radiation is ultraviolet radiation
Relief printing plate described in section. 32. Prior to step b, the solid photopolymer composition is
27. Relief printing plate according to claim 26, which is brought into contact with a cover sheet which can be removed after the imagewise exposure step b.